About SCDG
The Santa Cruz Derby Girls is a California non-profit corporation that formerly skated under the name Santa Cruz Rollergirls, LLC. SCRG was established in April of 2007 by a small group of like-minded women who had a dream to bring the sport and art of roller derby to Santa Cruz thus creating the first all-female full-contact, flat-track roller derby league in Santa Cruz. SCRG was an instant success, the league quickly grew in size and practices moved from an outdoor tennis court into the Santa Cruz Palladium on Seabright Avenue and the Scotts Valley Sports Complex. A handful of women had skating backgrounds but a majority of them were learning how to skate along with how to play derby. Numbers dwindled as the true intensity of roller derby became a reality. A core group of women determined to see the league succeed remained and the first official tryouts were held in September of 2007 followed by another tryout in December. The league numbers began to grow again, providing membership in all areas from Players to Homies to Ghostriders and Referees. With the inception of new members the league divided into three home teams: Beach Flat Betties, Fistful of Dollies and The Lost Girls. Out of the three home teams, a travel team was formed of the most skilled players, this team was known as the All-Stars.
By January 2008 the league was going strong and planning for their first official season. The 2008 season was a great success, selling out all seven home games at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. The sport of roller derby had arrived to the fans of Santa Cruz and they welcomed it with open arms. With the close of the 2008 season, the league hunkered down and started focusing once again on the business of the league. The desire to make the move from an LLC to a non-profit corporation became strong and the groundwork began over the next few months.
The 2009 season was fast upon the league and skating resumed early in 2009. The season schedule was set and the opening game for the All-Stars was against the Los Angeles Derby Dolls Sirens. It was a great game and win for the All-Stars in front of another sold out Civic crowd. Between the March 14 LADD game and the April 4th home game, the Santa Cruz Rollergirls, LLC became the Santa Cruz Derby Girls, a non-profit corporation. This was a great change for the league, bringing on new challenges and frontiers.
Today, the Santa Cruz Derby Girls is operated by the women who skate, a wonderful support staff of non-skaters, an a group of women and men who make up the Track Pack (our ref crew). Behind-the-scenes, skaters officially practice three to four times a week, along with outdoor skating and off-skates cross-training. There is a lot more to this than just skating though, we are a grassroots organization, which means that it takes elbow grease from everyone to make this work. Each member is required to be on a committee, and the committees perform the business of the league. The business is overseen by a group of five members, who make up the Board of Directors. We are dedicated to joining forces with local organizations to provide volunteer support, our volunteer efforts have aided multiple organizations in Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz Derby Girls are a unified group of women dedicated to furthering the sport of roller derby and giving back to the Santa Cruz community.
Santa Cruz Derby Girls Teams
Travel Teams - Boardwalk Bombshells (formerly the All-Stars) and Harbor Hellcats
And we are proud to now have a Junior Derby Team!
Goals for our 2009 Season
• Schedule 7 sold out home bouts for our local and visiting fans
• Increase our recognition in California by playing more away games
• Become members of WFTDA – Women’s Flat Track Derby Association
• Hold charity fundraisers that will benefit families and children of Santa Cruz
• Increase the portion of our bout proceeds that are donated to local charities
• Develop a “junior derby” for elementary and middle school girls